...

Sorry to keep you waiting, Ichika!

Oh, Honami!

Thank you so much for doing this.

No, it's my pleasure.

I'm just so happy that you finally get to meet Ms. Yoisaki.

Y-Yeah, so am I...

I'm glad she got to listen to that CD too.

(I'm glad, but...

I really hope she didn't see that sheet of paper I left in the bag...)

Hm...?

Is everything okay, Ichika?

Oh, um... It's nothing.

Anyway, we should go find them.

Sounds good. Let's go!

Oh, there they are...

Hoshino! Mochizuki!

Ms. Yoisaki! Asahina!

Hello, Ms. Mochizuki.

It feels so strange meeting you here in a place like this.

Hehe. It really does.

But thank you for meeting us today.

Especially you, Asahina. Thank you very much for taking some time out of your schedule to do this.

Y-Yes, um...

Thank you very much!

Hehe. Oh, don't mind me.

Please, just try to relax.

Kanade, this is Hoshino.

The girl who lent you that CD.

Nice to meet you...

I'm Kanade Yoisaki.

N-Nice to meet you too...

My name is Ichika Hoshino!

And thank you very much for allowing me to buy that CD!

You don't have to thank me. I was able to listen to it in the end because of you, Hoshino.

So thank you in return.

Anyway, why don't we find a cafe or someplace to sit down since we seem to be in such a chatty mood...?

Huh...?

Oh...

I forgot. I haven't eaten anything yet...

You stayed up all night again?

It's important to sleep properly and eat breakfast, you know?

Huh...?

I-I'm sorry. A nice melody popped into my head and before I realized it, the sun was coming up...

All night...?

So you haven't slept at all today?

No, I should be fine. I've been taking naps here and there.

Also, it's not like Mafuyu to be so concerned about my well-being like this...

Really?

Asahina's probably one of the kindest and most thoughtful I've ever met...

Oh... R-Right, well...

This always happens whenever you become too engrossed in composing, Kanade. Why don't we find a place where you can get some real food in you?

I agree. We can keep chatting over a nice meal.

So you're enrolled in a correspondence school, Yoisaki.

Yes...

I want to invest as much of my time as I can into composing music instead of school or anything else.

I see. That's really admirable...

Is it?

I'm more impressed by how you and Mochizuki are in a band while attending a regular school... Oh.

Thank you for your patience.

I have a wonton ramen here.

Oh, yes.

That's me.

Wow, that looks delicious...

Do you like ramen that much, Yoisaki?

Yes, because it's both delicious and readily available.

You even keep your home stocked with instant noodles. Still, it's not good to have a diet that consists primarily of just that, you know?

Don't worry. I always make sure to eat whatever you make me first, Ms. Mochizuki.

I suppose that works...

Hehe. I'm always worried about how Kanade's passion for making music is affecting her lifestyle...

But I feel much better knowing that you're there to keep an eye on her, Mochizuki.

Honami's definitely the caring type.

Also, do you two come to this diner often?

Our music group throws after-parties here from time to time.

Music group...

With Ms. Yoisaki...?

Does that mean you also create your own music, Asahina?

Yes, have I never mentioned it before?

No, this is my first time hearing this.

That's so incredible...!

Oh, I even saw one of the videos you showed me earlier. The one about the marionette...!

I was so moved by the way the music and lyrics were both able to convey these profound, deep-seated emotions.

The illustrations and music video created this incredible atmosphere too. Did you two make all of that together?

We have four members in total.

Us, an illustrator and a video editor.

I had no idea.

I had a chance to see it and thought it was wonderful as well.

Hehe. Thank you.

But you two are in a band, Hoshino?

Y-Yes...!

However, we've only been able to perform in a few shows.

But you've been improving so much, Ichika.

She actually did a performance all by herself the other day during this Fan Festival that celebrates VIRTUAL SINGER music.

Wait, you did...?

The Fan Festival?

Didn't we go to that as a group?

Y-You were there?

That means they must've seen your performance, Ichika.

P-Probably, but I feel so embarrassed now...

By the way, which song did you sing?

Oh, it's basically a rock song...

Here, this one.

Oh, I remember now...

You were the one singing this, Hoshino?

Y-You were really in the audience?!

Yes, your performance was a very memorable one.

Also, hold on... Could it be...?

Is something the matter?

Did you happen to be singing at Nonogi Park this last spring, Hoshino?

Huh?

I did sing there, but how did you know...?

When I was walking by Nonogi Park that time, I just happened to hear this girl singing a Miku song.

The way she sang was so beautiful that I still remember it very vividly... I didn't realize that girl was you, Hoshino.

Oh, was that when...?

And you were there listening to me sing, Yoisaki!

Yes, I think so.

It really was a wonderful song.

Th-Thank you very much...

I'm not sure what else to say.

However, the way you sang this last spring seemed a little different from the way you sang during the Fan Festival.

Oh, really?

That must have to do with how much she's been practicing. Her singing style must be changing little by little.

I see.

You must be a very hard-working person, Hoshino.

No, I'm really not...

I'm just trying to do what I can right now.

Oh, but...

I do want to be able to sing songs that can touch someone's heart someday.

Touch people's hearts...?

Yes.

Right now, I'm nowhere near that level...

But someday, I want to sing and perform songs in a way that can really touch people's hearts.

I see...

That's a wonderful dream.

I also want to compose a song that can do just that.

...